NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto’s decision to implement austerity measures, including spending cuts and low budget allocation to counties, is triggering huge protests in Kenya.
Now joining these voices of dissent are young women Change Leaders of Nguvu Collective, who say that austerity measures in the national budget will severely affect communities across the country, especially women in counties already plagued by poor conditions in critical sectors like education, employment and healthcare.
Nguvu Change Leaders are part of a transformational leadership program run by Nguvu Collective, which aims to support women in leadership roles.
Even though President Ruto proposed a Finance Bill to increase taxes, he withdrew the decision following heavy protests.
What the Kenya Kwanza adoption of austerity steps may result to
His ruling Kenya Kwanza administration plans to adopt austerity steps, resulting in massive reductions in county budgets for expenditures that go into crucial services and resources necessary for local development.
These include healthcare, education, the judiciary, legal services for sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), public safety programs, employment and labour, housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and the environment.
According to the Nguvu Change leaders, as counties bear the brunt of these cuts, marginalised groups, especially women, will be affected and disproportionately impacted the most!
“One of the key sectors that will be affected by the budget cuts is healthcare, which is already facing severe challenges, including shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, overcrowded hospitals and poor infrastructure,” Nguvu Change Leader Deborah Monari told Y News.
How the budget cuts will severely affect vulnerable Kenyan women
Monari, an active campaigner for equitable healthcare, observed that poor and vulnerable women, who mainly rely on public healthcare services, will naturally be the most affected by the budget cuts.
“Slashed allocations to the health budget will also affect health protection programmes and public health coverage packages,” Monari added.
According to Synthia Asienwa, another Nguvu Change Leader, Kenya’s education sector, which is already reeling from many issues, including inadequate facilities, poorly trained teachers, and overcrowded classrooms, will also witness a significant setback due to low budgetary allocations.
“By reducing spending on education, the government is trying to deny access to quality education to the underserved. Further, it will also result in more school dropouts, especially among girls struggling to access quality education,” Asienwa told Y News.
Meanwhile, Nguvu Change Leader Mercy Mwende, who has already launched an online petition to increase internship and employment opportunities for women in various fields, said a reduced budget would affect the prospects of women hoping for jobs in the public sector.
“A reduced allocation for key sectors like health and education could lead to job losses, particularly for public sector workers. It will also affect the dreams of thousands of interning teachers expecting permanent posts after their training,” added Mwende.
How William Ruto’s decision may exacerbate gender inequality
On her part, Nguvu Change Leader Josephine Mwende, who is also the founder and CEO of AbleRise Africa Society, a community-based organisation that challenges societal norms and advocates for inclusivity and equality, told Y News that a reduction in the budget would exacerbate gender inequality.
“Due to the reduction in budget, county governments will have to slash allocations for social welfare schemes and programmes. These include social assistance, social security, and health insurance that many disabled marginalised families rely on for survival,” said Josephine.
Josephine reiterated that programs such as disability support services, child protection initiatives, and elder care are likely to suffer, pushing more families into poverty.
“These budget cuts threaten to reverse advancements in financial inclusion, further entrenching societal inequalities. Vulnerable groups, particularly individuals with disabilities, will face greater barriers to economic stability, exacerbating their marginalisation and economic hardships,” concluded Josephine.
Y News has established that the Nguvu Collective program has further trained over 400 women leaders in India and more than 150 in Nigeria, equipping them to advocate for change and share their personal stories, particularly in areas like health and social issues.
